StayAreasIs Downtown & Salt Palace a good place to stay in Salt Lake City?
Yes, especially for conventions, games and a night out. Restaurants and TRAX are on hand, but some streets feel empty late at night.
Stay here if
- Convention visitors
- Jazz fans and concert-goers
- Skiers on a budget
Look elsewhere if
- You want a historic feel
- You want quiet streets on event nights
- You want to stay by the slopes
Hotels in Downtown & Salt Palace
All Downtown & Salt Palace hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Downtown & Salt Palace
South downtown is the most practical place to stay in Salt Lake City for a convention, a game or a night out. The Salt Palace and the Delta Center are a few blocks away, most of the city's restaurants and bars are nearby, and TRAX runs to the airport in about 20 minutes.
The area has livened up in recent years. New cocktail bars and breweries have opened on 300 South, food halls and rooftop bars fill old buildings, and the big convention hotels are busy year-round. In winter, skiers use it as a cheaper base for Alta, Snowbird and the Cottonwood Canyons.
The downside is that some streets feel empty late at night, and homelessness is visible in places, especially west of the centre. It also lacks the historic feel of Temple Square.
What makes downtown worth it is value and choice. Big hotels with pools cost less than in many US cities, the restaurants are on foot, and the mountains are less than an hour away by car.
Getting around
- Gallivan Center8walk
- Salt Palace Convention Center12walk
- City Creek Center13walk
- Temple Square15walk
- Family History Library15walk
- Tabernacle16walk
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)20
Downtown & Salt Palace questions
Is Downtown & Salt Palace a good area to stay in Salt Lake City?
Yes, especially for conventions, games and a night out. Restaurants and TRAX are on hand, but some streets feel empty late at night. It suits convention visitors, jazz fans and concert-goers and skiers on a budget.
How much does a hotel in Downtown & Salt Palace cost?
A typical double is around $190 a night at a budget hotel, $230 mid-range and $440 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Downtown & Salt Palace?
About 20 minutes door to door: TRAX Green Line from the airport to downtown.
How far is Downtown & Salt Palace from the main sights?
Door to door from Downtown & Salt Palace: Gallivan Center 8 minutes on foot, Salt Palace Convention Center 12 minutes on foot, City Creek Center 13 minutes on foot and Temple Square 15 minutes on foot.